A Canadian's unique experience in helping
re-establish the US Second Fleet
The RCN's Deputy Commander, RAdm Steve Waddell, will speak on his recent experiences as the Vice-Commander of the United States Navy’s Second Fleet and what it means to continental defence and the RCN. The US Second Fleet is located in Norfolk, VA, and is responsible for defending maritime avenues of approach between North America and Europe.
Rear Admiral Steven Waddell grew up on Lake Temagami, Northern Ontario and found a natural fit with the Royal Canadian Navy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Manitoba; Master’s Degrees from King’s College London, UK and Salve Regina University, USA; and is a graduate of both the United Kingdom’s Joint Services Command and Staff College, and the United States Naval War College.
His command tours include the frigates HMCS Charlottetown and HMCS Fredericton; Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt; and U.S. Second Fleet (Norfolk) as Vice Commander where he also established the Fleet as a Maritime Component Command for NATO.
Rear Admiral Waddell’s operational sea tours include deployments to the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Adriatic Sea and the waters adjacent to the Horn of Africa and Korean peninsula. Missions included United Nations sanctions enforcement against Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, counter-terrorism operations in the Gulf region and piracy disruption patrols in the Indian Ocean. Highlights were circumnavigating the globe in HMCS Calgary as the ship’s navigator, deploying with staff in the USS Constellation Carrier Strike Group, and leading a NATO fleet as MCC for Steadfast Defender 21.
Ashore, Rear Admiral Waddell served on the west coast as Senior Navigation Instructor at the Naval Officer Training Centre, and as Operations Officer with Sea Training Group (Pacific). In NDHQ, he served as the Director of Naval Strategy, as Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) at Joint Operations Command, and was appointed to the Chief of the Defence Staff Initiative Group. Flag appointments included Director General Naval Strategic Readiness; Vice Commander U.S. Second Fleet; and most recently as Deputy Commander, Royal Canadian Navy.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, General Campaign Star Southwest Asia, Special Service Medal – Peace, Special Service Medal – NATO, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia, Non-article 5 NATO Medal for Africa, and Canadian Forces Decoration (2nd Clasp).
Rear Admiral Waddell continues to invest family time, and resources, into his cottage on Lake Temagami.
